cannabisnews.com: Pot Activist Seeks Political Asylum Pot Activist Seeks Political Asylum Posted by CN Staff on July 10, 2003 at 08:33:29 PT By CBC News Online Staff Source: CBC Vancouver -- A medical marijuana advocate from California is claiming seeking refugee status in Canada, saying he's a fugitive from the U.S. war on drugs. Kenneth Hayes' case is being heard this week by the refugee board in Vancouver. Hayes is wanted in California on drug charges. He arrived in B.C. last year, just days before the charges were laid. If convicted, he would faces years behind bars. Hayes admits to growing pot, but says it was medical marijuana for people with AIDS. He claims he won't get a fair trial in the U.S. "I just personally hope to be able to stay here and wait out the Bush administration until here's a new administration that's more politically in favor of what I'm doing." According to the refugee board there has only ever been one successful refugee claim from the U.S. A decision on the Hayes case is expected by the end of the year. Medical Marijuana: http://www.cbc.ca/news/indepth/background/medical_marijuana.html The Canadian Marijuana Debate: http://www.cbc.ca/news/indepth/background/marijuana_legalize.html Source: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Published: July 10, 2003Copyright: 2003 CBCContact: letters cbc.ca Website: http://www.cbc.ca/Related Articles & Web Site:DEA Raids Medical Marijuana Clubhttp://freedomtoexhale.com/raid.htmIndicted Rosenthal, Hayes, Watt, and Halloran http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12133.shtmlPot Club Crackdown Continueshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12014.shtml Four Arrested in Connection with Pot Cultivation http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11994.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by FoM on July 14, 2003 at 07:53:56 PT Important E-Mail from Steve Kubby DPFCA: Well Done, Richard Cowan! Dear Friends,Richard Cowan has just concluded his defense of Steve Tuck and Ken Hayes at the Refugee Protection Board hearings in Vancouver. I seriously doubt that anyone could have done a better job and I expect both Tuck and Hayes to win, along with us, when the results of these hearings are announced in October.When I asked Richard why he had donated so much time and effort, without any compensation, to defend Tuck and Hayes, his answer was simple and immediate: "Because they are my friends and they needed my help."The work of Richard Cowan on behalf of cannabis reform spans a lifetime, from his graduation from Yale to his enormous contributions as executive director of NORML and later to his pioneering work with the 420 Marijuana News for Pot TV.I believe I speak for all of us when i say that we are deeply grateful for all the Richard has done and continues to do on behalf of freedom and cannabis reform.Let freedom grow,Steve KubbyP.S. Richard is currently hard at work completing a book scheduled for publication this December called, "Reefer Refugee." I've just seen a few chapters and it is absolutely fantastic!Drug War Refugees: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/smk.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by afterburner on July 10, 2003 at 09:05:38 PT: Also from CBC Ottawa pot plan unworkable: doctors http://www.cbc.ca/clips/ram-audio/seputis_wr030710.ram Medicinal marijuana advocates say Health Canada's new regulations will make it almost impossible for users to get a legal supply of pot. F U L L S T O R Y http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/07/10/med_pot_rxn020710 [ Post Comment ] Post Comment